All eyes were on Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, as the No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) took the court against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-9, 5-9 Big Ten) for a Presidents’ Day matinee showdown. With tipoff set for 11 a.m. Central Time and national coverage on FOX, this Big Ten rivalry matchup promised drama, tension, and the kind of high-stakes basketball fans crave in February.
Both teams entered the contest riding very different waves of momentum. The Hawkeyes, fresh off a much-needed 65-56 victory over No. 25 Washington, had snapped a three-game losing streak and were eager to keep their NCAA Tournament hosting hopes alive. The Cornhuskers, on the other hand, were searching for answers after dropping four straight, including a tough 84-67 loss at Minnesota just days earlier. Nebraska’s recent slide saw them lose seven of their last nine and nine of their last 13 after an impressive 12-0 start to the season.
This wasn’t the first time these squads squared off in 2026. Iowa had already bested Nebraska 86-76 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on New Year’s Day, a game that showcased the Hawkeyes’ offensive firepower but also hinted at the Cornhuskers’ resilience. Since then, both teams have been forced to adapt, with Iowa in particular navigating a new reality after losing a key veteran presence.
For Iowa, the injury report has become a weekly fixture, and Presidents’ Day was no exception. Sophomore guard Emely Rodriguez remained sidelined with a nagging back injury, missing her 19th consecutive game. Senior forward Jada Gyamfi continued her recovery from a December knee procedure, and the Hawkeyes were still coming to terms with the season-ending ACL injury suffered by senior guard Taylor McCabe, who underwent surgery in early February. McCabe, a Nebraska native and three-point specialist, had been averaging 8.0 points and leading the team with 49 threes before her injury against Ohio State on January 25. Her absence has left a noticeable void, forcing Iowa to get younger and leaner in its rotation.
Head coach Jan Jensen, now in her second season at the helm, has had to rely on a potent inside attack to keep the Hawkeyes in the hunt. Senior forward Hannah Stuelke has been a force in the paint, averaging 14.0 points and a team-best 8.9 rebounds, while sophomore center Ava Heiden has emerged as the team’s leading scorer at 16.4 points per game, shooting a blistering 62.7 percent from the field. Heiden’s impact has grown even larger in conference play, where she’s averaging 18.2 points per contest and anchoring the defense with a team-high 25 blocks.
“We’ve had to figure things out on the fly, but I’m proud of how this group has responded,” Jensen said in practice earlier this week. “Losing Taylor (McCabe) was tough for everyone, but we’re getting contributions from all over the roster.”
Indeed, sophomore transfer Chazadi “Chit-Chat” Wright has stepped up in the Iowa backcourt, averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 assists while shooting an eye-popping 48.6 percent from three-point range. Wright’s ability to control the tempo and create shots for herself and her teammates has been a game-changer, especially as the Hawkeyes try to replace McCabe’s production.
Rounding out the starting five, sophomore guard Taylor Stremlow has filled McCabe’s shoes admirably, posting 7.1 points and 3.6 assists per game and bringing a slashing, mid-range threat to the offense. Graduate guard Kylie Feuerbach, averaging 5.1 points and 3.0 assists, continues to serve as one of Iowa’s top perimeter defenders. Off the bench, freshmen Addie Deal and Layla Hays, along with sophomore Journey Houston, have provided valuable minutes and energy, helping Iowa maintain its high-octane style.
Statistically, the Hawkeyes have been impressive, averaging 79.3 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting and knocking down 36.4 percent of their threes. Their free throw shooting has improved to 68.9 percent, and they own a plus-8.0 rebound margin, a testament to their dominance on the glass. Despite a shorter rotation, Iowa’s resilience and depth have shone through during the grind of Big Ten play.
Nebraska, meanwhile, entered the matchup desperate for a turnaround. Head coach Amy Williams, now in her 10th season leading the Huskers, has leaned on a talented starting group led by sophomore guard Britt Prince, who tops the team with 17.4 points per game. Forward Amiah Hargrove (12.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Jessica Petrie (11.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) have provided consistent scoring and rebounding, while junior guard Logan Nissley and senior guard Callin Hake round out a lineup capable of catching fire from beyond the arc.
“We know what’s at stake, and we know Iowa’s going to bring it,” Williams told local reporters. “Our focus is on getting back to what made us successful earlier this season—sharing the ball, defending with intensity, and feeding off our home crowd.”
Nebraska’s bench features key contributors like Eliza Maupin and Petra Bozan, but the Huskers have had to persevere without redshirt sophomore Natalie Potts and graduate guard Allison Weidner, both out for the season. Despite the adversity, Nebraska’s clean injury report for this game (outside of the two long-term absences) offered a glimmer of hope for a team searching for consistency.
The stakes for this matinee clash couldn’t be higher. Iowa, ranked 11th in the NCAA Tournament committee’s first top-16 seed reveal on February 14, is aiming for another Quad 1 win to bolster its postseason resume. Nebraska, meanwhile, is fighting to stay on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, hoping to snap its skid and notch a signature victory in front of a raucous home crowd.
With the game broadcast live on FOX and streamed on multiple platforms, fans across the country tuned in to see whether Iowa could complete the regular-season sweep or if Nebraska would rise to the occasion and defend its home court. The halftime show even featured the Kansas City Disc Dogs, adding a touch of fun to an already electric atmosphere.
As the action unfolded, both teams showcased the grit and determination that have defined their seasons. Would Iowa’s inside dominance and newfound backcourt chemistry carry the day? Or could Nebraska’s shooters find their rhythm and flip the script at home?
With the game still ongoing, the outcome remains up in the air. One thing’s for sure: this Big Ten rivalry is delivering the drama and intensity fans have come to expect, and the road to March just got a little more interesting in Lincoln.